Bynum hasn’t tested his knee with much physical exertion but can feel the swelling has gone down since vhe had it drained, fueling his optimism.

“I just want to be out there,” Bynum said. “If I can be effective, we’ll have a great shot at winning the game.”

Bynum said his decision to drain his right knee was made easy when it was explained to him this way: “Either not play or do the draining.”

Bynum said his personal doctor, David Altchek, sports medicine orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery, reviewed Bynum's latest MRI Saturday and agreed no further damage had occurred or would occur by playing. Bynum said the doctor told him he will have surgery to repair the torn cartilage in early July, with rehabilitation taking 2-to-5 weeks but closer to five weeks because of his size.